Roosters prop Dylan Napa is still on a high after making his State of Origin debut last week, despite the hiding dished out to Queensland by NSW in his hometown of Brisbane.
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Napa was one of the Maroons' best in the 28-4 loss despite playing only half the game, racking up 101 running metres and 24 tackles in a typically workhorse-like performance.
It's likely to be the first of many Origins for the Roosters enforcer, who backed up alongside three of his teammates in Saturday night's two-point win over the Brisbane Broncos.
And while the 24-year-old remains bitterly disappointed by last week's loss against NSW, Napa said he would never forget the moment he ran out at Suncorp Stadium for the first time in a maroon jersey.
"To be able to say I've put my family's last name on the back of a Maroons jersey is something special and something I'll cherish forever. I definitely don't take any of that for granted," Napa said.
"It's a team I've adored since I was a very young boy. I just wanted to do the jumper proud.
"Debuting for Queensland and debuting in the NRL would be two of my proudest moments as an individual. There's a lot of hard work that goes on and every other player in the Origin arena [has] done the exact same hard work to get there."
Napa was used sparingly by Roosters coach Trent Robinson against the Broncos, producing a typically tireless opening 22 minutes before sitting on the bench until the back end of the second half.
Queensland teammate Aidan Guerra, and NSW pair Boyd Cordner and Blake Ferguson also backed up, while Napa was up against five of his Maroons teammates who did the same for the Broncos – Darius Boyd, Matt Gillett, Josh McGuire, Sam Thaiday and Corey Oates.
Cordner, one of the Blues' best on Wednesday night playing 80 minutes, scored two tries against the Broncos in a match-winning display.
"It's a bit crazy if you ask me. I don't know how Boyd Cordner did 80 minutes on Wednesday and 80 minutes tonight," Napa said.
"To not only play but to play quality football is the dream. It's just another job to do. I'm not the first one to do it and I don't think I'll be the last one to do it ... it's what you do for your teammates."
The win was the Roosters' ninth of the season and meant they leapfrogged Brisbane into the NRL's top four.
Halfback Mitchell Pearce should return from concussion next weekend against the Wests Tigers before the Roosters enjoy their first bye of the year.
"We have a little goal over these next five games to get as many [wins] as we can, I think we're three from four now, with one more before Origin II," Napa said.
"We feel it's going to set up our season by playing well over this two-month period.
"It's just an exciting time of the year playing football. I love playing football once a week and this week I got to play it twice, I'm just so grateful."
